Cameron drops EU pledge

UK Conservative Party leader David Cameron risked reigniting Tory splits over Europe by signalling on the 23 October 2007 he will not bow to media and internal party pressure to promise a Conservative government would hold a referendum on the EU treaty after it becomes law.

The Tory leader tried to duck the issue at a London press conference, saying he would not be drawn on 'hypotheticals' that might distract from his campaign for a referendum before parliament votes to approve the treaty in 2008.